Note 23 — LETTER XXXV.

Giafferi did all he could; but was obliged to submit to Force, the Republic being assisted by the Troops which the Emperor had assembled in Lombardy, to oppose the Enterprizes he was then apprehensive of from the Spaniards. Giafferi was arrested, but by a great deal of Art and Cunning he obtain’d his Freedom, after the Genoese thought the Corsicans were disarmed, destitute of Leaders, and reduced to a Sense of their Duty; and he retired to Tuscany. But the Corsicans being no better treated than they were before their Accommodation, took up Arms again, upon which Giafferi procured them all manner of Assistance, and actually returned to that Island, and put himself at the Head of the Malecontents, who seemed to have a fair Chance of regaining their Liberties. They were so uppish in Expectation of foreign Assistance, that they rejected some new Concessions made to them by the Genoese, in Dec, 1734, declar’d Aitelli General of the Forces, and one Costa, a Man of great Intrigues, General-Auditor of the Island; and, at the same time, made Proposals to the King of Spain to take them under his Protection, having renounced all Subjection to the Republic of Genoa, declar’d themselves a free and independent People, and resolv’d to defend their Liberties to the last Man. At length they receiv’d some Recruits of Money and Ammunition by one Theodore, who call’d himself the Baron de Neuhoff, and arriv’d in March 1736. on Board an English Ship from Tunis; but in the Name of what Power he acted, is as yet a Mystery. He had the Success to be proclaim’d King of Corsica, and Copper Money was coin’d there with his Effigies; but he has since been obliged to abandon the Island; and the French have taken upon them to accommodate Matters between the Genoese and Corsicans. It must be left to Time, to shew whether the Genoese will have Reason to be pleased with this formidable Mediation. After all, that Republic has too much Cause to remember the Saying of Prince Lewis of Wirtemberg, who, when he return’d with the Imperial Troops from suppressing the former Rebellion, told them, That the Island was not worth the Expences which the Republic had been at in reducing the Corsicans, and what they must be at continually to keep them in Subjection.